Rae hummed as she walked to the village well. The last few days were so peaceful and quiet, even with the emptiness she constantly felt in the pit of her stomach whenever her love wasn't around. "BUJUUUUU! GET BACK HERE!" A feminine voice sounded off in the distance. Rae chuckled, figuring that Ritzia's frisky pet Rabite, Buju,
got loose again. "Keldy! Help me!"

The young palehaired maiden giggled as she drew water. As she set it down a swift darkness swept over her eyes and a familiar voice whispered in her ear: "Guess who this is and I just might set you free." Rae gasped. "L-Lek? You're home!" Sure enough, the hands were removed and she turned her head to look into the soft brown eyes of her lover. She threw her arms around him, completely forgetting about her water pail. "I've missed you so much! Your hair, you've cut it off!" Lekius held her closely as though she might blow away in the slight breeze. "I know, my sweet. I've missed you too." He kissed her hair and breathed in her flowery scent. "Come with me on a little date, right now." She laughed.
"But you've only just got back!"

He gave her a Look and she knew instantly that she was defeated. Rae blushed. "Al-all right, just as soon as I get this water pail back to my house." Lekius grinned in triumph as he picked up the pail and strode alongside her.

_________________________

"So tell me, did you find what you were looking for?" Rae asked a while later as they strolled hand-in-hand by a bubbling brook. Lekius grinned and his eyes shone. "It was such an adrenaline rush! I fought the biggest creature I have ever laid my archer eyes on. But you should have seen it, such magnificance! It was huge but quick on its feet. But that's not the reason why I asked you to come this way with me." He pushed back some long willow branches and revealed a beautiful little wildflower bed right by the stream. Birds sang and flowers of various shapes and sizes swayed in a gentle breeze. Rae gasped, her eyes shining in wonder. "Th-this...this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen!" Lekius smiled as his eyes gazed upward at the clear blue sky. "I came across this place during my travels. It reminded me of you."

Rae walked around in a daze, stopping every now and then to sniff a flower and dance around, giggling like the young maiden she was. She plucked some of the flowers, weaving herself a little crown. Finally, she sat down beneath the shade of a cherry tree, its blossoms being blown around everywhere. Lekius sat down right beside her. She looked at him, her smile as wide as the ocean. "Oh Lekius! This place is just wonderful! Thank you ever so much for bringing me here."

Lek smiled in return, brushing a stray cherry blossom off her cheek. "Actually," he confessed. "There's more to it than that." He reached into a satchel and withdrew a small package, wrapped in a giant leaf. He presented it to her and watched with anticipation as she unwrapped it, revealing the scale necklace he had made for her. She gasped.
"Oh Lekius...this is just beautiful!! Are those rainbow scales?"

"To symbolize your beauty, like a million colors splashed across the sky."

"A-and is this your hair?"

"So I'll always be there for you, protecting you, no matter how far apart we are from each other."

Tears glistened in Rae's eyes as she turned to Lek, who was now on one knee in front of her. "Ramalle," He said,
taking her hand. "Will you marry me?"

Rae, her clouded with tears, nodded enthusiastically and quickly replied: "Yes, yes of course I will!" And with that,
Lek took the necklace from her. She gathered her hair from her neck and allowed him to tie the necklace around her neck. Tiny shivers raced up her spine as she felt his fingers brush against her. When he was finished, her hair fell back around her neck as he helped her up. Lek lifted a scale up with the tip of his finger. "You look absolutely stunning, my love."

And with that, his hand moved behind her head and slowly drew their faces close to each other, ending their perfect outing with a passionate kiss.

---OMAKE-
LAWLIE: AND We're through with another chapter! Sorry this one was so short, everyone, but everything seemed to come together so smoothly so quickly.
RAE: Cut it out, you just wanted to watch us makeout while you stood over by that tree.
LEK: ?
KELDY: Who would have thought?
RITZIA: The shame!
ALL: A voyeur!
LAWLIE: (shock) I did NOTHING of the sort! I was glancing...for....my fic! How else was I gonna get it all down accurately? (everyone looms around her, including Buju the rabite) Science? (looms closer) Uh, parley?

AND SO, THE AUTHOR HAD TO COMPENSATE BY GIVING EVERYONE A GIANT CHOCOLATE RABITE. IF YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY VIEW FLIES COMING OUT OF SOMEONE'S WALLET, HERS IS THE ONE TO STEAL.

(NOTE: A voyeur is someone who watches sexual activity from a vantage point.)